Shin Bet: Road 443 Safe for All Israelis - Except PM Netanyahu

Road 443 is said to be safe for all Israelis - except Prime Minister Netanyahu, who told MKs that the Shin Bet has forbidden him from using it.

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David Lev, 21/06/10 17:52 | updated: 18:04

Highway 443

Israel news photo: Flash 90

Despite a number of rock attacks during May, prior to its reopening to Palestinian Authority drivers, the IDF and government in May fulfilled a High Court order to allow PA traffic to use Road 443, one of the two east-west highways connecting Jerusalem to metropolitan Tel Aviv. The opening went ahead, despite appeals against the road's opening by MKs, security officials, and drivers, who fear an increase in terror attacks on the road.The Shin Bet has decided that at least one Israeli citizen – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu – cannot risk using the road.

In response, the security establishment said that the IDF had taken “sufficient steps” to ensure the safety of Israelis using the road. But the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) has decided that at least one Israeli citizen – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu – cannot risk using the road.

The information emerged Monday at a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told MKs that he had been instructed by the ISA not to travel on the road because of “security concerns.” Arutz 7 reporter Kobi Finkler, who contacted security officials about the security order, was told that the road is secured by the IDF and Border Patrol, and that it was safe for Israelis to use. The officials said they would not discuss the orders regarding Netanyahu.

Road 443 has been the scene of numerous terror attacks against Israeli drivers. In March, Arabs threw a firebomb at an Israeli vehicle driving on the road, injuring a father and his nine-month-old baby boy. There have been numerous rock attacks recently against Israelis driving on the road, both before and after it was reopened to PA traffic at the end of May. It was closed to PA traffic in September 2002, after Arabs carried out several fatal shooting attacks against Israeli drivers during the Second Intifada, also known as the Oslo War.